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Former U.S. Senator Trent Lott Talks Politics and Donald Trump

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by Desare Frazier on

As Prominent Mississippi Republicans muster their support for presidential candidate Donald Trump, a former U.S. Senator from the state says it's a bizarre campaign year. Desare Frazier reports.

"It's been the weirdest thing I've ever seen and I watched national politics pretty closely since 1964," said Lott.

Former U.S. Senator Trent Lott served 35 years in Congress. The 74-year old retired eight years ago, but says he's still plugged into politics, as a consultant for a Washington, DC law firm. Lott didn't expect businessman Donald Trump to be the presumptive party nominee. His pick was Ohio Governor John Kasich. Lott says both parties underestimated Americans' frustration over jobs, the economy and national security.

"Some of this politically incorrect stuff that was said by Trump or others actually appealed to a lot of the people. But I think a lot of candidates, including myself, underestimated people's angst about this flood of illegal immigrants that come into this country. They feel threatened by them, physically, but also again, because of jobs," said Lott.

Lott thinks Trump needs to make some changes to win the presidential race.

"I think he's going to have to change his rhetoric and his demeanor in order to have a viable chance against what I presume will be the Hillary Clinton nomination. I'm a little worried that it's going to be a real tough race because he plays hardball and I know the Clintons well enough to know they play hardball too," said Lott.

Trent Lott says Trump has to carry Florida and Ohio to win the election. He hopes Trump will pick John Kasich as his vice-presidential running mate. Lott spoke at an event hosted by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History about his new book "Crisis Point."